Kitchen Kibitz
Perhaps because it aligns with our modern taste for all things fermented, preserved, and pickled, Jewish cuisine is undergoing a much-needed renaissance in these parts. Playing a big role in its revival is this recurring pop-up from proprietor Jeff Gabel, who's managed to talk culinary luminaries like Bread & Salt Hospitality's Joshua Lewin into getting creative with everything from brisket-topped latkes to hamantaschen. kitchenkibitz.com.
Eugene Mirman
A Lexington native, Mirman made his name with appearances on Flight of the Conchords and a starring role in the animated series Bob's Burgers while living in New York. But he never forgot about his hometown, remaining a presence on Boston's standup scene and even creating a comedy festival here. He's since moved back to the area, letting us reclaim him as our own. eugenemirman.com.
Mei Mei
There’s nothing wrong with boilerplate gyoza or xiao long bao. But it’s hard to resist the singular farm-to-table fusion proffered by the siblings behind Mei Mei, who fill their crackly, hand-crimped wrappers with everything from heirloom legumes to braised beef and blue cheese. Our favorite of the bunch—cilantro oil, a swipe of mashed white beans, and lean chorizo—isn’t just a damn good dumpling. It might just be the best two-bite morsel in town. 506 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215, meimeiboston.com.
Megan Graham, Megan Graham Beauty
How many ways can you say blond? By our count, Graham’s lexicon has a few extra pages, given her way with color. For years, Graham has garnered accolades for the way she paints her high and low tones on tresses. Here’s one more: Blond is way more fun when she’s the one who got you there. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, megangrahambeauty.com.
Arthur and Pat’s
This brunch spot got Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler’s vote for " best food in the whole wide world" (he presented A & P’s with the title and a platinum-record plaque several years ago), and now it has our stamp of approval as well. Having trouble deciding among the eggs Benedict with homemade pastrami, chocolate waffles with white chocolate crème anglaise, and the " Joey K" (smoked salmon atop a scallion-potato pancake with poached eggs)? Order all three, then nap all afternoon. 239 Ocean St., Marshfield, MA 2050, .
EcoClean Boston
We love the aptly named EcoClean in part because its proprietary supplies are made from sustainable materials, keeping things green, safe, and pleasantly unscented. But we also love them because they arrive on time and get to work in a whirlwind of efficiency. They might even surprise you—one day we came home to find our balcony swept of a winter’s worth of debris. Nice touch. ecocleanboston.com.
Sofra Bakery and Cafe
Trailing orange blossom syrup and rose petal sugar, Ana Sortun's year-old bakery-café comes on like a Salome of sweets, beguiling the cupcake-and-cookie crowd with such Middle Eastern-inspired delicacies as Egyptian bread pudding and Syrian shortbread with rhubarb-rose jam. To pastry chef Maura Kilpatrick, our oversugared palates owe thanks for a much-needed dose of spice. 1 Belmont St., Cambridge, MA 2138, sofrabakery.com.
Sam Treadway, Backbar
In just a year, Treadway has taken this already exciting snack-and-cocktail spot and upped the ante even further with his unique mix of seasonally driven classics (like our favorite drink of summer, the grapefruit-and-tequila-based Paloma), modern spins on standards (barrel-aged mai tais), and fun, laid-back options like the smoky mezcal pickleback. 9 Sanborn Ct., Somerville, MA backbarunion.com.
Formaggio Kitchen
Not everyone appreciates the olfactory assault that is Formaggio. In fact, we frequently have to check our companions at the curb before heading in to sample this place's runny gobs of poisses and Robiola. True fans of the stinky stuff, however, will be blown away by the shop's countless whole wheels of raw-milk cheddars, marbled blues, and crumbly Parmigianos, aged and tended in Formaggio's own custom-built cheese cave. 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, formaggiokitchen.com.
Beacon Hill Chocolates
The truffle display alone, filled with row upon row of beautiful, handcrafted chocolates from the best confectioners in the world, is well worth the trip to this Charles Street boutique. Once we've chosen from the blood-orange fleur-de-lis and candied-bacon caramels, each dainty treat is wrapped individually—which we suppose is cool and all, but really just delays our tearing into them. 91 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, beaconhillchocolates.com.
El Centro
Boston isn't known yet for great Mexican fare—perhaps we're a little too far north of the border for the spicy stuff. But things are looking up now that El Centro has rolled into town. Our go-to order? The deeply flavored ;carne asada and fish tacos, followed by ;al pastor sopes (doughy corn tartlets). Top that off with a couple glasses of jalapeño-spiked sangria, and you'll easily silence any naysayers. 472 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 2118, elcentroboston.com.
Church
Don't let the Korn-T-shirt-clad crowd outside the adjoining music club scare you off; once you get inside the restaurant portion of Church, you're in for a mellow—and seriously enjoyable—dining experience. If tuna tartare is available, go for it; our favorite version is served with cucumber chunks and wonton chips. The grilled steak tips with truffle-Parm fries are also delicious. 69 Kilmarnock St., Boston, MA 2215, churchofboston.com.
Bradley & Diegel Salon
We've visited those trendy blowout bars, but found that pointing to a menu to order a hairstyle—not to mention being swiftly herded from sink to chair and out the door again—feels wildly impersonal. Which is why we love this posh Newbury Street salon, where we're coddled with coffee and tea and a deeply relaxing cranial massage. Most important, we saunter out with perfect tresses fluffed and preened to suit our hair type and face shape. 77 Newbury St., Boston, MA bradleyanddiegel.com.
Megan Graham Beauty
We're so over marathon trips to techno-salon palaces where we're given just enough attention to warrant an overpriced coloring. Which is why we now place our flaxen tresses squarely in Megan Graham's hands. She sees the nuances in blondes (we're so easy to stereotype), painting in high- and lowlights that hint at her former life as an artist. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, meghangrahambeauty.com.
Louis Boston
Louis has long clothed our city's who's who in sometimes elegant, sometimes edgy apparel—Balenciaga and Zac Posen, Project Alabama and Proenza Schouler. Plus, the überchic staff isn't übersnooty, offering honest opinions without leaving you feeling obligated to buy. That's something even the most sophisticated shopper can appreciate. 60 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 2110, louisboston.com.